1917 value & history
- Thread starter gfleet
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john traveler
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Looks like fine-condition original finish M1917 made in the first year of production.
Guns like yours with s/n under 50,000 are worth a premium to collectors of M1917 revolvers. With provenance of ownership to an historical figure, it could be worth a lot more. Just imagine the privelege of owning the M1917 issued to General John J. Pershing of the American Expeditionary Force!
For a value comparison, check out the various gun auction sites and see what the bidding/selling history of comparable models is.
Guns like yours with s/n under 50,000 are worth a premium to collectors of M1917 revolvers. With provenance of ownership to an historical figure, it could be worth a lot more. Just imagine the privelege of owning the M1917 issued to General John J. Pershing of the American Expeditionary Force!
For a value comparison, check out the various gun auction sites and see what the bidding/selling history of comparable models is.
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So tell us more, what is its background?
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It's a 1917 Army, built on the N frame during WW I as a supplement to the 1911 .45 auto. About 170000 produced later in the war (1917 to late 1918). It uses .45 ACP (probably best to stick to standard pressure FMJ) in spring steel clips that permit extraction, or .45 Auto Rim.
Your photos show that is has probably not been refinished, and therefore worth more than a similar worn gun. The early models that John mentioned have flat areas at the tops of the wood stocks (yours doesn't) and concentric milled grooves on the hammer (unclear from the photos).
Do you see any evidence it has been refinished, such as rounded metal edges, metal damage under the finish, or bore/chamber condition that is worse than the finish?
Lucky you...see this other current thread:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/156253-need-help-please-m1917-prices.html
Your photos show that is has probably not been refinished, and therefore worth more than a similar worn gun. The early models that John mentioned have flat areas at the tops of the wood stocks (yours doesn't) and concentric milled grooves on the hammer (unclear from the photos).
Do you see any evidence it has been refinished, such as rounded metal edges, metal damage under the finish, or bore/chamber condition that is worse than the finish?
Lucky you...see this other current thread:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/156253-need-help-please-m1917-prices.html
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Based on the serial number, your revolver probably shipped in April or May of 1918. When production began, the company was hard pressed to put out 5000 units a month, well below what the Army was looking for. In summer 1918, under Army oversight of production, they got up to around 15000 units a month and stayed there.
On the left side of the gun, just above and to the right of the recoil shield, you should see an acceptance stamp -- I think it should be a flaming bomb at this point in the production run. There might also be eagle's head stamps on the back of the cylinder.
It's hard to say from the photos, but I think the gun may have been refinished, probably quite some time ago. The hammer and trigger appear to be blued now, but they would have had case hardening colors when original. The frame edges seem to be a little soft or rounded near the brightest area of illumination. There are some scratches and wear spots on the current finish, so any reblue must have happened quite some time ago. But I'm really stretching to read detail in some dark areas of the photos, so I could be wrong.
You might find pencil numbers on the flat inner surfaces of the stocks that would tell you whether they were original to the gun. They look a little small for the frame, and they are in such good shape for 90+ years old that they may not be original.
Any mechanically sound and semi-good looking 1917 is probably at least a $500 gun. If this one is refinished, that would affect its value to collectors. Refinishing may not matter much to someone who just wants a functioning piece of S&W wartime history.
I like the contemporary coins and photos -- nice set-up.
EDITED TO ADD: If you go to Wikipedia and look up "M1917 Revolver," you'll find a page of general info about both the S&W and Colt 1917 revolvers in .45 ACP.
On the left side of the gun, just above and to the right of the recoil shield, you should see an acceptance stamp -- I think it should be a flaming bomb at this point in the production run. There might also be eagle's head stamps on the back of the cylinder.
It's hard to say from the photos, but I think the gun may have been refinished, probably quite some time ago. The hammer and trigger appear to be blued now, but they would have had case hardening colors when original. The frame edges seem to be a little soft or rounded near the brightest area of illumination. There are some scratches and wear spots on the current finish, so any reblue must have happened quite some time ago. But I'm really stretching to read detail in some dark areas of the photos, so I could be wrong.
You might find pencil numbers on the flat inner surfaces of the stocks that would tell you whether they were original to the gun. They look a little small for the frame, and they are in such good shape for 90+ years old that they may not be original.
Any mechanically sound and semi-good looking 1917 is probably at least a $500 gun. If this one is refinished, that would affect its value to collectors. Refinishing may not matter much to someone who just wants a functioning piece of S&W wartime history.
I like the contemporary coins and photos -- nice set-up.
EDITED TO ADD: If you go to Wikipedia and look up "M1917 Revolver," you'll find a page of general info about both the S&W and Colt 1917 revolvers in .45 ACP.
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